High performance computers and telecom switching equipment require more advanced circuit boards with improved signal integrity, lower weight, lower temperature and superior impedance control. These types of boards, DWT, are a more expensive process to manufacture but carries many distinct advantages, as described above.

Analysts expect that niche market to expand in proportion to increases in computing speeds. Currently, worldwide DWT revenue is estimated at $40 million with domestic sales accounting for 35% of that market. The two domestic suppliers are Integrated Performance Systems (OTCBB: IPFS) and Advanced Interconnect Technology. Advanced leads that market with sales of $10 million while IPFS sales were only $3.7 million. IPFS estimates it will surpass Advanced in sales through innovative design and high quality workmanship.

Advanced, a privately held company focuses most of its efforts in custom wafer bumping to semiconductor industry in Hong Kong while still procuring R&D funding. Advanced Interconnect Technology's market share is therefore only an assumption given company's foreign operations and R&D status.

Integrated Performance Systems RF circuit boards have strong potential as well and internationally provide company with multi-market opportunities for a specialty niche circuit board manufacturer.

Jabil Circuit (NYSE: JBL) designs and manufactures electronic circuit board assemblies and systems for original equipment manufacturers in communications, computer peripherals, personal computers, and consumer product industries. For fiscal year ended 8/31/02, revenues fell 18% to $3.55 billion. Net income fell 71% to $34.7 million. Revenues reflect decreased production of computing and storage products. Net income also reflects an increase in restructuring charge.

Axcess Business News believes that both JBL and IPFS are growth companies. Although JBL's faced down markets for its products and shrinking margins while IPFS has had opposite happen.

Based on S&P's sub-industry outlook as of Dec 14, JBL shares may be overpriced at $18.30 with lowest pretax margin (1.8%) of all those companies shown in that S&P Sub-Industry Outlook. Axcess Business News noted that for Peer Groups with more than 15 companies or stocks, S&P's selection is based on market capitalization. IPFS's market capitalization is less than $10 million. However, IPFS manufactures products with significantly higher profit margins and less competition, and has shown as much growth as JBL has shown shrinkage.

It appears to Axcess Business News that IPFS is undervalued, even at its prior 52 week high of $2.25 its shares would still be undervalued against its Industry Group's Peers based on operating margin.

One of lowest priced stocks in that S&P Industry Group is SigmaTron International (NasdaqSC: SGMA), which closed Friday at $3.87. SGMA had pretax profit margins of only 2.9% and had climbed and fell on same curve as IPFS from its 52 week high of $5.09 to as low as $1.39 before recovering.

IPFS shows signs of exceeding both JBL and SGMA's pretax margins in 2003 and is showing no signs of slow growth, supporting Axcess Business News views toward its share price being significantly undervalued at its current level. The Company may see its value climb to between $4 and $5.00 by mid-2003 assuming it continues its fast paced growth in sales and earnings.

Axcess Business News will continue to report on electronic equipment and instruments segment of Information Technology Sector, and these companies activities, for our readers. Watch your in-box for any news alerts on this and other late breaking business news. If you're not a member, consider subscribing now and you can get these great market alerts too!

Go to http://www.theaxcess.net

The Company Package Mike finally took plunge last year and left. He ended up becoming a partner in his friend's restaurant.

With no experience in this field he embarked on a huge learning curve.

He went from a boring yet very cushy 9.00 - 5.00 p.m. job with a regular income to working 9.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m. seven days a week with barely any income. However, Mike was on fire. He was excited. He was living life (or so he thought). That was 10 months ago.

I caught up with him this week and he told me he is selling his share of partnership. He realised that there was more to running a business of your own than working for someone else. The pressure on him had taken it's toll. He had been getting heart palpitations and couldn't sleep. The stress of it all was too much.

The Moral To The Story Mike had leapt out of his comfort zone and took a risk. Although in this instance, he found out it was too big a price to pay, he wouldn't have known whether or not this was going to work out until he tried it. Of course he had done all his due diligence beforehand, however that's still no guarantee that he had made right decision.

What Mike has learned from his experience, is that there is a world of opportunity out there and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. But you'll never know unless you give it a go.

He's still excited about possibilities for his future and is grateful that he had guts to take action.

The Final Word If you want to become more or do more with your life this year, what investment are you prepared to make in your own self?

What resources, courses, support do you need so that you can be excited about getting out of bed in morning?

Are you healthy enough to jump out of bed in morning? Are you healthy enough to cope with your life?

If you want to change then make sure you take action today!

Lorraine Pirihi